Billie Myers - Vertigo (2000)

Fresh from her chart-topping 1997 debut Growing Pains, English-born nurse/insurance agent turned singer/songwriter Billie Myers follows up with Vertigo, another honest look into lyrical imagery and catchy pop hooks. A definite maturation from her mainstream hit "Kiss the Rain," Vertigo is a reflection of Myers' whirlwind success she endured with that single that landed her support stints with Savage Garden, Bob Dylan, and Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair as well as nonstop touring in Mexico, Brazil, and Japan. Fame was hard to digest, but Myers seems to be spiritually comfortable this time around.

The first single "Am I Here Yet? (Return to Sender)" is pure positive pop, layered with tiny electronic breakbeats and a soulful chorus pondering everyday outcomes: "The future/There's got to be more to this." She sizzles things up on the Latin-oriented "Roll Over Beethoven" and "A Room Full of View" showcases her signature heartfelt ballads. Myers welcomes the unknown, unafraid of seeking out what's to come. No longer consumed by the constant comparisons to Tracy Chapman and Joan Armatrading, Billie Myers is confident. The price of fame will not overshadow her effort to deliver another solid set of emotional stories and passionate songs.~Vertigo Review by MacKenzie Wilson